Sun-Mystics Preview

By KATE HEDLIN
Posted May 29 2010 2:09PM

The Washington Mystics and Connecticut Sun are the top two 3-point shooting teams in the WNBA. The Sun's aggressiveness from beyond the arc, however, is translating into more victories.

The Mystics and Sun meet for the second time in a week Sunday at the Verizon Center as Connecticut goes for its third straight win while Washington tries to snap a three-game slide.

Connecticut (3-1) defeated Washington 80-65 last Sunday, handing the Mystics their first loss of 2010. The Sun went 9 of 21 from 3-point range, hitting four from long range during a 25-5 run bridging the third and fourth quarters.

For the season, Connecticut is shooting 37.5 percent from 3-point range, trailing only the Mystics at 38.5 percent. However, Washington has attempted only 65 shots beyond the arc while the Sun have hoisted up 88.

Connecticut has connected on at least nine shots beyond the arc in its three wins, shooting 9 of 24 in a 105-79 win over Minnesota on Thursday.

Renee Montgomery had three 3s and finished with a season-high 23 points while Tina Charles added 21 and 10 rebounds.

"I felt good for the first time this season," said Montgomery, who played last season for the Lynx and came in averaging 6.3 points. "I've had some unfortunate nagging injuries. It was just strange that this game happened to come against Minnesota."

After getting off to a 3-0 start, Washington has failed to get back in the win column. In an 81-75 defeat at Los Angeles on Friday, Katie Smith scored 15 points, and Monique Currie and Crystal Langhorne added 13 each.

The Mystics trailed 44-30 at the half and pulled within four with 1:16 remaining, but couldn't find a way to halt their skid.

"We played a solid second half, but you just can't dig yourself that big of a hole. Our transition defense wasn't very good, they got easy buckets," said Smith. "We were fighting the rest of the way and at that point you need to make everything go your way to finish it off."

Washington (3-3) has allowed an average of 81.0 points during its losing streak after giving up 67.3 during its quick start.

Currie, who leads the Mystics in scoring with 18.2 points per game, had a season-low six before fouling out last week against the Sun.

Washington defeated Connecticut 91-89 in double overtime in their most recent meeting at the Verizon Center in August.

Langhorne comes up big, Mystics beat Sun 69-65

Posted May 30 2010 6:16PM

WASHINGTON(AP) Crystal Langhorne scored 17 points and tied a career high with 16 rebounds, and the Washington Mystics withstood a late run in Sunday's 69-65 win over the Connecticut Sun.

Nakia Sanford added four of her 11 points in the final three minutes as the Mystics (4-3) led by at least three throughout the late stages of the game. Monique Currie scored 18 points and Lindsey Harding had 10 points and nine assists to help end a three-game skid.

Tina Charles scored 13 points for Connecticut (4-2), which never led and fell to 0-2 on the road. Renee Montgomery hit a 3-pointer and scored five of her 10 points during a 10-3 run that cut the Sun's deficit to 58-55 midway through the fourth quarter.

Later, Charles' putback made it 64-61 and Allison Hightower's jumper made it 66-63, but each basket was answered by an inside score from Sanford.

Tan White's free throws made it 68-65, but with under 20 seconds left, Montgomery missed a 5-foot jumper that would have cut the lead to one. Matee Ajavon's foul shot for Washington pushed the lead to four, and Connecticut turned it over on its final possession.

Langhorne's double-double was her third of the season.

• Sun: --
• Mystics: --

• Sun: --
• Mystics: --

• Lead Changes: 0
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #24 Tony Dawkins, #8 Daryl Humphrey, #11 Lauren Bass
• Attendance: 8602
• Duration: 1:52